BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Hershiser Scheduled to Face Valenzuela

Orel Hershiser is scheduled to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies’ Fernando Valenzuela on Sunday, when Valenzuela returns to Dodger Stadium for the first time since being released by the Dodgers in the spring of 1991. It is a matchup sure to generate interest, but it will be tough to find anyone more interested than former Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia. Scioscia is rehabilitating an injury in Port Charlotte, Fla., where the Texas Rangers’ triple-A team plays. He told Manager Tom Lasorda: “I would fly up to watch that game, but what I would really like to do is catch for both teams.” Valenzuela signed with the Phillies on Friday.

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Rookie Raul Mondesi says he doesn’t mind at all that Brett Butler tutors him in the outfield, often talking with him after he makes a fundamental error to let him know what should have been done. “He’s trying to help me . . . if they are trying to help me, then that’s fine,” Mondesi said.

During Saturday’s game, Mondesi lobbed the ball to second base after he caught a fly with runners on first and third. Kevin Bass, who hadn’t planned to try to challenge Mondesi’s arm, scored on the sacrifice fly. The run didn’t cost the Dodgers, but Butler explained to Mondesi that he should have come up as if he were throwing and fired the ball to second base. The next batter, Jeff Bagwell, hit a fly ball that Mondesi caught against the wall, and he threw a perfect strike to second base.

Mondesi acknowledges the adjustments he is making to play in the majors, but he says there is one big difference compared with playing at triple-A. “When you make a mistake here, you pay,” he said. “I am enjoying myself, but if I wasn’t doing well, hitting .240 or something, I don’t think I would be.” Before Sunday’s game, Mondesi was batting .321, with 11 home runs and 41 runs batted in. He ranks among the league’s top 10 with 18 doubles and 90 hits. He leads the league with 12 outfield assists. Before the Houston series, he led the team with a .400 average with runners in scoring position. Mike Piazza ranks second with a .366 average.

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Before Sunday, the Dodgers’ record in day games was 12-7, 3-2 on the road and 9-5 at Dodger Stadium. The team was batting .283 with 24 home runs and 116 runs batted in over 19 day games, during which they had outscored opponents, 120-85, an average of 6.3 runs per game. Five of the Dodgers’ eight regulars had a batting average of over .300 in day games. Henry Rodriguez led with a .422 average, followed by Delino DeShields at .333. Before this season, DeShields had the best batting average in the majors for day games. He batted .406 while with the Montreal Expos.